N a v y P ROGRA M S
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Executive Summary
• The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye continues to improve in aircraft
and radar system performance.
• The E-2D Program Office completed a planned transition
from St. Augustine, Florida, to Naval Air Station (NAS)
Patuxent River, Maryland.
• The Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force
(COTF) conducted an operational assessment (OT-B1)
on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye from September 29 to
November 12, 2008.
• The Navy completed Milestone C and was authorized to
proceed with low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lots 1 and 2
after a critical Nunn-McCurdy Breach in June 2009.
System
• The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a carrier-based Airborne
Early Warning and Command and Control aircraft.
• Significant changes to this variant of the E-2 include
replacement of the radar system, the communications suite,
the mission computer, and the incorporation of an all-glass
cockpit.
• The radar upgrade replaces the E-2C mechanical scan
radar with a radar array that has combined mechanical and
electronic scan capabilities.
• The upgraded radar is designated to provide significant
improvement in Hawkeye littoral, overland, clutter
management, and surveillance capabilities.
Activity
• COTF conducted an operational assessment (OT-B1)
on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye from September 29 to
November 12, 2008. COTF issued their Final Report on
this operational assessment in March 2009. All testing was
conducted in accordance with a DOT&E-approved Test and
Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) and test plan.
• COTF conducted integrated testing in January 2009 to verify
improvements in target tracking and overland radar detection.
• DOT&E approved the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye TEMP for
Milestone C.
• The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology
and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) directed the Navy to declare a
significant Nunn-McCurdy Breach in April 2009 and conduct
a review similar to that required for a critical breach.
• The Navy declared a critical Nunn-McCurdy Breach in
June 2009 due to cost growth.
• The USD(AT&L) approved Milestone C including, but not
limited to, the following program direction:
Mission
The Combatant Commander, whether operating from the aircraft
carrier or from land, will use the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to
accomplish the following missions:
• Theater air and missile sensing and early warning
• Battlefield management, command, and control
• Acquisition, tracking, and targeting of surface warfare
contacts
• Surveillance of littoral area objectives and targets
• Tracking of strike warfare assets
Prime Contractor
• Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, St. Augustine,
Florida
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Entry into LRIP for Lots 1 and 2 (two aircraft each)
Long lead procurement for LRIP 3
Revised procurement profile to contain production costs
Establishment of exit criteria for the FY10 operational
assessment
• The E-2D Program Office completed the planned relocation of
E-2D developmental and integrated testing from St. Augustine,
Florida, to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in July 2009.
Assessment
• The operational assessment demonstrated satisfactory aircraft
and radar system performance. Radar integration efforts must
continue to improve target tracking and overland detection
performance. DOT&E observed two areas of significant risk
to successful completion of IOT&E: interoperability (due to
the Cooperative Engagement Capability program development
schedule) and training (due to lack of maintenance trainers for
IOT&E maintenance personnel).
E-2D AHE
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N a v y P ROGRA M S
• The E-2D program must remain fully funded in order to
complete development of training, maintainability, and
Logistic Support capability.
• The radar system reliability, specifically mean time between
failure, did not meet established requirements during the
operational assessment and must continue to improve. The
E-2D program does have a reliability growth program and is
required to achieve specific radar system performance levels as
exit criteria for LRIP Lots 1 and 2.
• The operational assessment scheduled for FY10 will allow
an in-depth assessment of radar performance including
improvement in system reliability maturity.
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E-2D AHE
Recommendations
• Status of Previous Recommendations. The Navy satisfactorily
addressed the previous recommendations.
• FY09 Recommendation.
1. The Navy should revise the TEMP for approval before the
Defense Acquisition Board program review in FY11.